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JROTC Raiders compete at JB MDL

  • Published
  • By Pascual Flores
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Raider Brigade cadets from nine tri-state high schools participated in the 2010 Raider Competition here Saturday.

The Raider competition was hosted by the Reserve Officer Training Corps, 2nd "Freedom" Brigade. It tested the mental and physical abilities of approximately 100 cadets in timed events.

The teams were assessed in six categories: physical fitness, land navigation, a one-rope bridge activity, first aid, litter carry, written test and a 3K run.

First place winners of the 2010 Raider Competition come from Francis Lewis High School, N.Y., which consisted of two teams: an all-male competition team and all-female exhibition team.

"We do not worry about other teams. We just concentrate on our own efforts, " said retired 1st Sgt. Richard Gogarty, a senior Army instructor with Francis Lewis High School JROTC. "At competition, we perform like we practice."

The Raider teams from FLHS were the brigade champions for the past ten years.

The first event of the Raider competition was the modified Army physical fitness test. Participants took a written test to assess their knowledge of the JROTC curriculum upon completion of the APFT.

Following the written test, the teams split into three groups to rotate through the land navigation course, one-rope bridge activity, first aid and litter carry events.

Each team was tested on the ability to navigate terrain through map reading, compass and pace- counting skills. They were tested on speed and teamwork abilities as they built a bridge over an obstacle with one rope. The cadets also treated a simulated casualty and carried it to safety. The final event of the day was the 3K team run where each team was required to begin and finish together.

"Today's competition is a true testament of the commitment these young men and women possess to be the best that they can be and work together toward a common goal," said Sgt. Maj. Kevin L. Goetz of the ROTC 2nd Brigade.